Mail handling table



M. L. BEYER MAIL HANDLING TABLE March 1, 1955 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledDec. 3, 1955 INVENTOR.

MILLARD L. BEYER BY 71. Quiz;

& ATTORNEY March 1, 1955 Y 2,703,169

MAIL HANDLING TABLE ATTORNEY March 1955 M. BEYER 2,703,169

MAIL HANDLING TABLE Filed Dec. 5, 1953 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIL IN VEN TOR.

MILLARD l BEYER 3% 1. (Ya/d1.

ATTORNEY United States Patent O MAIL HANDLING TABLE Millard L. Beyer,Hempstead, N. Y.

Application December 3, 1953, Serial No. 395,900

6 Claims. (Cl. 198-34) This invention is a continuation in part of theapplication Serial No. 309,877 of Millard L. Beyer, filed September 16,1952, and relates to a conveyor system for a combined mail sorting tableand mail processing device.

Dual stacking units and combined dual cancelling and stacking devicesare now available which operate at such high speed that conventionalflat belt conveyors are inadequate to feed envelopes in sufiicientquantity as tokeep such units operating at their maximum capacity whichis of the order of two thousand envelopes per minute.

It is contemplated that each sorting table shall have the usual eightoperating positions on one or both sides. At each opera't-ors positionthere is a card pocket for short envelopes, the respective pockets beingarranged over a horizontal belt, while the long envelopes are depositedin a common slot arranged over a second horizontal belt disposedalongside the belt for the short envelopes. Both belts carry theenvelopes riding on their edges and properly faced toward the processingdevice where they are carried along through the processing device by asecond conveyor system associated with the processing device.

The envelopes are deposited usually in bunches by the respectiveoperators properly faced on the belts. When the conveyor belts areoperated at sufiiciently high speed to feed a number approaching themaximum to the processing device, the various bunches of envelopesencountering each other have a tendency to jam, often necessitatingstoppage of the entire conveyor system until the jammed envelopes can bereleased by hand.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide on the sortingtable per se simple mechanisms individual to the operating positionswhich will spread out the envelopes from the respective operatingpositions and thus de-bunch the envelopes before jams can occur. Thispermits more rapid operation of the entire sorting table conveyor systemand makes it easier for the stacker or a'combined cancelling machine andstacker to feed the envelopes one at a time to the star wheel of thestacker. Heretofore, individual envelopes were not separated frombunches of envelopes until the bunches had reached the cancelling andstacking mechanism.

The invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanyingdrawings, of which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a mail sorting table having a pair of flatconveyor belts disposed on each side of the table together with a mail.processing device for each pair of belts which in this embodiment of theinvention is a stacker;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the table;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top view of the table showing a pair of associatedfiat conveyor belts, pulleys for supporting V-belts, spring loadedseparator arms and idler pulley-s for the V-bel-ts associated therewith;

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing an arrangement of flat conveyor belts,idler pulleys mounted on vertical axes and separator arms associatedwith the respective idler pulleys;

Fig. 5 show-s a preferred embodiment of the invention in cross section.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings: the

sorting table 9 is generally similar to that of the parent case andcomprises a flat smooth upper surface 10 of heavy ferrous metal providedwith legs 13. Though not shown in detail in the drawings the table legsare formed of heavy iron with a T-shaped cross section.

A number of spaced brackets 14 are fastened to the Near the lowerend ofeach of these armsa' roller 20.

2,703,169 Patented Mar. 1, 1955 is supported in suitable bearings formedin the arms. These rollers support the lower run of a pair of flatconveyor belts 21 and 22 while the upper run of the belts are supportedby long strips or blocks of wood which provide a flat running surfacefor the belts. This arrangement will be described in detail below.

The end portion of the conveyor belts are supported by being loopedabout rollers 23 and 24, one of which is driven by a suitable motor notshown. This motor may be connected with other driven elements of thetable, about to be described in the conventional manner.

ln the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 duplicateconveying and processing apparatus is provided for opposite sides of thesorting table which usually is provided with eight operators positionson each side of the table. The operators arrange the envelopes anddeposit the same on one or the other of each pair of belts in accordancewith their length, the stamps being positioned at the lower leading edgeof the envelopes and facing the outer edge of the table so that theywill be fed in the direction of roller 24 in order that the cancellingmachine will invariably imprint a cancelling mark over the stamp. Asuitable dual cancelling device is described in the joint application ofMillard L. Beyer and Ernest Persson, Ser. No. 273,630, filed February27, 1952. In case the envelopes are fed directly to a stacking device,the method of arranging the envelopes just described makes it possibleto feed them directly to independent cancelling machines without furtherrearrangement.

Conveyor belt roller 24 is mounted preferably on a suitable bracket 25which supports the roller and the eject end portion of the belts2 1 and22 some distance beyond the end of the table. This extending portion ofthe belt is intended to be used as part of the feeding mechanism of adual cancelling and stack-ing unit such as that described in theabove-mentioned application or the dual stacker uni-t shownschematically in the drawings.

As shown in connection with the front conveyor belt in Fig. 2 the righthand roller 23 therefor is laterally adjusta ble to maintain the belt ata desired tension by a screw arrangement 30 attached to the rollersupport. In this figure at the right hand end of the table the extendingportion of the rear conveyor belts is shown.

A side view of the dual stacker unit 31 is shown schema-tically at theleft hand end of the table in Fig. 2 and at the right hand end of thedrawing in Fig. 1. A portion tween each pair of fiat conveyor beltswhich acts as a guide for the envelopes on one side of each conveyorbelt. This partition is shown in Fig. 5.

The housing 32 terminates at the end of the table and the guideway iscontinued by a vertical elongated plate 35, Fig. l, which extendsbetween the extended eject portion of the flat belts 21 and 22. Plate 35is part of the detachable dual stacker unit and serves to guide and keepseparate the long and short envelopes from flat belts 21 and 22.Likewise, plate 35 could be part of a combined dual endorsing andstacking device disclosed in the abovernentioned application.

Referring to Fig. 1, flat plates 36 and 37 are pivoted to the outer endof vertical plate 35. These plates are lightly spring loaded in suchdirection as to press their outer ends away from each other in thedirection of shields 38 and 39 formed of thin metal which fit overpulleys 40 and 41 indicated by dotted lines. Such pulleys are part ofeach stacker unit and one set is provided for each fiat belt 21 and 22and each associated pair of pulleys carry short, which are similar foreach section of the stacker unit shown carry horizontally relativelynarrow V-belts spaced above the respective conveyor belts 21 and 22 soas to engage the sides of any envelopes coming into contact therewithand urge the same forward while cooperating with the hinged plates 36and 37 to keep the envelopes travelling on their edges. The shortV-belts driven by pulleys 40 and 41 are not shown since they arepartially concealed by the associated pulley shields. The shields areprovided for protection for the fingers of the attendants. Just beyondpulleys 40 and 41 is a driven pulley 42 partially covered by theadjacent shield 38 or 39. This pulley cooperates with an idler pulley 44mounted in the known manner on yielding arms. The arrangement justdescribed separates the envelopes so that they pass therebetween one ata time to the associated star wheel of the dual stacker unit. Shield 45covers a pair of so-called star wheels of a known kind, 47 for longenvolpes and 46 for short envelopes. The star wheels operate in theusual manner, kicking the individual envelopes outward one at a timeagainst sliding stop plates 50 or 51 until there is an accumulation ofenvelopes in the baskets 52 or 53 formed by an assembly of spaced rods.As the stacked envelopes fill up the baskets, attendants remove them andpush sliding plates 50 and 51 back to an initial position adjacent thestar wheels when they are again pushed back as fresh envelopes are urgedoutward by the respective star wheels.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5 which show in detail a preferred embodimentof the invention, adjacent either or both edges of the table and betweenthe upper and lower runs of the flat belts 21 and 22 a shelf or rampextends the length of the table. Shelf 60 is formed with a pair ofspaced longitudinal grooves or troughs 6i. and 62 in which the upperruns of belts 21 and 22 are disposed. Troughs 61 and 62 are bounded byupwardly projecting ribs or ridges 63, 64 and 65.

A fiat strip of wood 66 or 67 rests in the respective troughs to providea flat uniform surface to support the upper runs of flat conveyor belts21 and 22. A wooden strip 70 and a metal plate 71 are positioned at theopposite sides of the wooden strips 66 and 67 to provide guideways forthe belts 21 and 22.

A feature of the invention is the provision of V-belts 72 and 73 havingruns overlying in spaced relation an edge portion of each of the flatconveyor belts 21 and 22. The V-belts are mounted on pulleys which turnabout vertical axes and are driven in any suitable manner. Fig. 5 showsin section two troughs for guiding envelopes carried by conveyor belts21 and 22. The trough for belt 21 which carries long envelopes is formedby a vertical plate 75 on the outer side while the inner side of thetrough is formed by the slanting side plate 76 which is one side wall ofthe central housing 32.

Plate 75 is supported by being attached to a longitudinal plate 77 whichis bent over at 78 and then formed with a vertical section 79, thelatter being fastened by hinges 80 to the table legs, Fig. 2, to permitthe entire guideway outer side of the guideway including plate 75 toswing outward to give access to the belts for servicing.

A series of idler pulleys 85, Fig. 5 which turn on vertical spindles 86are mounted on rib 63 underneath the slanting plate 78 which provides ahousing therefor. The outer edge of V-belt 72 projects slightly beyondguideway plate 75 so as to engage the sides of envelopes coming intocontact therewith and thereby urge them along the channel in thedirection of movement of fiat belt 21. Idler pulleys are positionedbetween each of the operators positions to provide a firm support forV-belt 72 as indicated in Fig. 2.

A longitudinal metal plate 90 is fastened flatwise to center rib 64 bybolts 91. Overlying belt 21 in spaced relation is a row of arms 92mounted on vertical spindles 93. The respective arms are so located andshaped as to extend across belt 21 diagonally in the direction of one ofthe idler pulleys 85. Each arm is provided with a tip portion 95 ofrubber which is adjustably fastened in a recess in the arms by setscrews 96.

Arms 92 are formed with tail pieces 97 which are normally held againststop pins 98 by springs 99, Fig. 4, connected between the tail piece andspring post 100. The rubber arm tips 95 are set so as to be spaced aslight distance from V-belt 72.

Referring to Fig. 1, the sorting table may be provided, optionally, witha card pocket 101 of the known kind overlying flat conveyor belt 22which prevents envelopes beyond a predetermined length from beingdeposited on belt 22. Offset from the card pocket openings and disposedbetween each operators position, belt 22 is associated with a V-belt andswinging arm arrangement similar to that used in connection with belt21.

V-belt 73 has a run overlying an edge portion and driven in the samedirection as belt 22, the run projecting slightly beyond wall 106 ofhousing 32, which wall forms the outer side of the guideway for shortenvelopes.

V-belt 73 rides in spaced relation to belt 22 upon a series of pulleysincluding idler pulleys 107 which turn on vertical spindles 108 mountedon plate 90. There is preferably one idler pulley 107 positioned betweeneach of the card pockets 101. Cooperating with belt 73 in each instancewhere the belt is supported by an idler pulley 107 is a swinging arm 110extending diagonally across belt 22 in the direction of the periphery ofan idler pulley 107. The swingable arms are mounted upon verticalspindles 111 fastened to a longitudinally extending metal strip 112.Arms 110 are provided with tailpieces .115 which tend to rest againststop pins 116 due to the pull of springs 117 stretched between tailpieceand spring post 118.

The rear wall of the guideway may be the side wall 119 of a housing 120which encloses the mountings for swinging arms 110.

The invention operates as follows: When bunches of envelopes are placedon a fiat conveyor belt 21 or 22 at any of the operators positions,those in contact with V-belts 72 or 73 will becarried forward whileothers will engage swinging arms 92 or 110 which are lightly springloaded. Due to the motion of the belts 21 or 22 and the slantingposition of the arms the envelopes in the bunches will tend to separateand come into contact with the associated V-belt which will aid the flatconveyor belts in transporting the envelopes spreading them out alongthe belt. In this way the bunches of envelopes are substantially brokenup before reaching the next operators position where further bunches ofenvelopes may be deposited upon the conveyor belts without danger ofjamming with envelopes already passing the position. This makes it.possible to operate the conveying system at a speed considerably inexcess of that attained with the conventional fiat belt system.

What is claimed is:

l. A conveyor system for a combined mail processing apparatus and mailsorting table having a plurality of operators positions which comprisesa pair of fiat conveyor belts mounted side by side below the surface ofthe table near an edge thereof for conveying mail to the processingapparatus, one belt being for long envelopes and the other for shortenvelopes, a plurality of spaced envelope pockets, one for eachoperators position disposed over the latter belt, a V-belt having a runoverlying in spaced relation an edge portion of each flat beltandrunning in the same direction, a plu rality of spring loaded armssupported on vertical axes having tip portions extending across therespective flat belts in alignment with the V-belts for uniformlydistributing along the belts bunches of envelopes coming into. contacttherewith, and an idler pulley mounted upon a vertical axis forsupporting the V-belt immediately adjacent the tip of each spring loadedarm.

2. A conveyor system for a combined mail processing apparatus and'mailsorting table having a plurality of operators positions which comprisesa pair of fiat conveyor belts mounted side by side below the surface ofthe table near an edge thereof for conveying mail to the processingapparatus, one belt being for long envelopes and the other for shortenvelopes, a plurality of spaced envelope pockets, one for eachoperators position disposed over the latter belt, a V-belt having a runoverlying in spaced relation an edge portion of each flat belt andrunning in the same direction, a plu' rality of spring loaded armsuniformly spaced along the flat belts extending across the fiat beltshaving tip portions in register with an associated V-belt for uniformlydistributing along the belts bunches of envelopes coming into contacttherewith, and an idler pulley mounted upon a'vertical axis forsupporting the V-belt immediately adjacent the tip of each spring loadedarm.

3. A conveyor system for a mail sorting table having a plurality ofoperators positions which comprises a pair of fiat conveyor beltsmounted side by side below the surface of the table near an edgethereof, one belt being for long envelopes and the other for shortenvelopes, a plurality of spaced envelope pockets, one for eachoperators position disposed over the latter belt, a V-belt having a runoverlying in spaced relation an edge portion of each flat belt andrunning in the same direction so as to cooperate with the flat belts incarrying envelopes, a plurality of spring loaded arms uniformly spacedalong the flat belt having tip portions in register with an associatedV-belt for distributing uniformly along the belts bunches of envelopescoming into contact therewith, an idler pulley mounted upon a verticalaxis for supporting the V-belt immediately adjacent the tip of eachspring loaded arm, and a stop for each an? 1to hold the tip thereof inspaced relation with the V- e ts.

4. A conveyor system for a mail sorting table having a plurality ofoperators positions which comprises a pair of flat conveyor beltsmounted side by side below the surface of the table near an edgethereof, one belt being for long envelopes and the other for shortenvelopes, a plurality of spaced envelope pockets one 'for eachoperators position disposed over the latter belt, a V- belt having a runoverlying in spaced relation an edge portion of each flat belt andrunning in the same direction, and a pair of spring loaded armsextending respectively part way across the conveyor belts between eachof the operators positions for distributing uniformly on the fiat beltsseparate envelopes from bunches of envelopes coming into contacttherewith.

5. A conveyor system for a mail sorting table having a plurality ofoperators positions which comprises a pair of flat conveyor beltsmounted side by side below the surface of the table near an edgethereof, one belt being for long envelopes and the other for short en-25 velopes, a V-belt having a run overlying in spaced relation an edgeportion of each fiat belt and running in the same direction, and a pairof spring loaded arms extending respectively part way across theconveyor belts between each of the operators positions in the directionof one or the other of the V-belts for distributing uniformly along thebelts individual envelopes from bunches of envelopes coming into contacttherewith.

6. A conveyor system for a mail sorting table having a plurality ofoperators positions which comprises a pair of flat conveyor beltsmounted side by side below the surface of the table near one edgethereof, one belt being for long envelopes and the other for shortenvelopes, a pair of V-belts, one for each fiat belt, each having a runoverlying in spaced relation an edge portion of the associated fiatbelt, a plurality of idler pulleys for the V-belts, a pair of springloaded arms extending respectively part way across the conveyor beltsbetween each of the operators positions in the direction of one or theother of the V-belts for distributing uniformly along the beltsindividual envelopes from bunches of envelopes coming into contacttherewith, the idler pulleys being disposed opposite the free ends ofsaid arms to provide support for the V-belts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,058,696 Boswell Apr. 8, 1913 1,095,983 Ielfield May 5, 1914 1,217,092Hopp Feb. 20, 1917

